In a biblical context, the term "short-sighted" refers to a lack of spiritual insight or foresight, often resulting in a failure to understand or act upon God's will and purposes. This concept is not explicitly named in the Bible, but it is illustrated through various passages and teachings that highlight the importance of spiritual discernment and long-term vision in the life of a believer.

Biblical References:

1. 2 Peter 1:9 · "But whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his past sins." This verse speaks to the spiritual condition of a believer who fails to cultivate virtues such as faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. The apostle Peter warns that neglecting these qualities results in spiritual myopia, where one becomes blind to the transformative work of Christ and the cleansing from past sins.

2. Proverbs 29:18 · "Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law." This proverb underscores the necessity of divine vision and guidance. Without a clear understanding of God's revelation and commandments, people tend to live without restraint, pursuing immediate desires rather than eternal truths.

3. Matthew 6:19-21 · "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Jesus teaches about the dangers of focusing on earthly, temporal gains rather than eternal, heavenly rewards. Short-sightedness in this context is the prioritization of material wealth over spiritual riches.

4. James 4:13-15 · "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.' You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.'" James cautions against the arrogance of making plans without considering God's will, highlighting the short-sightedness of assuming control over one's future without acknowledging divine sovereignty.

Theological Implications:

Short-sightedness in a spiritual sense is often linked to a lack of faith and trust in God's promises and plans. It can manifest as a focus on immediate gratification, neglect of spiritual growth, or an inability to see beyond present circumstances. The Bible encourages believers to develop a long-term, eternal perspective, grounded in faith and obedience to God's Word.

Practical Application:

To combat spiritual short-sightedness, Christians are encouraged to:

· Cultivate spiritual virtues as outlined in 2 Peter 1:5-8.
· Seek God's vision and guidance through prayer and study of Scripture.
· Prioritize eternal values over temporary, worldly pursuits.
· Acknowledge God's sovereignty in all aspects of life, submitting plans and desires to His will.

By doing so, believers can maintain a clear spiritual vision, enabling them to navigate life's challenges with wisdom and purpose.3467. muopazo -- to be shortsighted
... dimly. Word Origin from muops (shortsighted) Definition to be shortsighted
NASB Word Usage short-sighted (1). cannot see far off. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3467.htm - 6k

The Unjust Steward
... if the master thought that to cheat, or to teach others to cheat, was acting either
wisely or prudently, then he was a very foolish and short-sighted man, and ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xlii the unjust steward.htm

Witnessing in Power.
... are some people who are sort of long-sighted and shortsighted, too. I have a friend
who has one eye that is long-sighted and the other is short-sighted; and I ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/secret power/witnessing in power.htm

Abraham's Four Surrenders
... Some one has said that Abram was a far-sighted man, and Lot was a
short-sighted man; his eye fell on the land right around him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/i abrahams four surrenders.htm

Savonarola -- the Ascension of Christ
... Both men failed in their splendid attempts at social reformation, but both left
an example of heroic altho somewhat short-sighted unselfishness, which has ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/savonarola the ascension of.htm

Synopsis. --Account to be Made of the Law of Atrophy through ...
... foundry. It is shortsighted not to foresee the inevitable effect on our
theological material of the law of atrophy through disuse. ...
/.../whiton/miracles and supernatural religion/vii synopsis account to be made.htm

We are Drawing Near the End, and to the Highest Conclusions of ...
... we shall thus find man's Reason running in a beautiful parallel with the divine,
and yet in marked contrast with the narrow, selfish, short-sighted policy of ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter xi we are drawing.htm

The Sinner's Friend
... to brand him with infamy, hold him up to derision, and hand his name down to
everlasting scorn, as "a friend of publicans and sinners." Short-sighted mortals! ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/the sinners friend.htm

The New Commandment
... of so many treasures. Verily it is true that God alone can sound the heart.
How short-sighted are His creatures! When they see a ...
/.../martin/the story of a soul/chapter x the new commandment.htm

Calcutta and the Mission Centres from Delhi to Amboyna
... The short-sighted regulation of the East India Company, which dreamed that it could
keep Christianity out of Bengal by shutting up the missionaries within the ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter vii calcutta and the.htm

Unbelief.
... XIV. UNBELIEF. Man"short-sighted man"often raises impossibilities when God does
not. It is hard for rebellious unbelief to lie submissive and still. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xiv unbelief.htm

Shortsighted (1 Occurrence)
... intellect. 3. (a.) Having little regard for the future; heedless.
Multi-Version Concordance Shortsighted (1 Occurrence). 2 Peter ...
/s/shortsighted.htm - 7k

Short-sighted (1 Occurrence)
Short-sighted. Shortsighted, Short-sighted. Shoshanim . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(DBY NAS). Shortsighted, Short-sighted. Shoshanim . Reference Bible.
/s/short-sighted.htm - 6k

Nearsighted (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Seeing distinctly at short distances only;
shortsighted. Multi-Version Concordance Nearsighted (1 Occurrence). ...
/n/nearsighted.htm - 6k

Menahem (8 Occurrences)
... However short-sighted the policy, its immediate purpose was attained, which was
that the hand of the Assyrian king "might be with him to confirm the kingdom in ...
/m/menahem.htm - 13k

Purging (3 Occurrences)
... (KJV DBY WBS). 2 Peter 1:9 for he with whom these things are not present is blind,
short-sighted, and has forgotten the purging of his former sins. (DBY). ...
/p/purging.htm - 7k

Shoshanim (2 Occurrences)

/s/shoshanim.htm - 7k

Sighted (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (a.) Having sight, or seeing, in a particular manner; -- used in composition;
as, long-sighted, short-sighted, quick-sighted, sharp-sighted, and the like. ...
/s/sighted.htm - 7k

Shortness (1 Occurrence)

/s/shortness.htm - 7k

Ahab (85 Occurrences)
... Assyria. 3. His Religious Policy: Ahab's far-sighted foreign policy was the
antithesis of his short-sighted religious policy. Through ...
/a/ahab.htm - 52k

Former (107 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 1:9 for he with whom these things are not present is blind, short-sighted,
and has forgotten the purging of his former sins. (DBY NAS). ...
/f/former.htm - 41k

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